The Skoda Octavia RS has been spied undergoing final tuning ahead of its official unveiling at July’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.
CarAdvice’s spy photographers captured the new Octavia RS almost completely undisguised in its domestic Czech Republic, giving us a clear indication of what to expect when the third-generation mid-sized sports sedan launches internationally later this year.
A fake bumper disguises the horizontal running lights and intake shapes of the new Skoda Octavia RS’s actual front end, which was revealed inadvertently in a computer-generated image on an official Skoda configurator website late last year.
Low-profile rubber wraps around sinister black alloy wheels, which contain racy red brake calipers.
The rear end sports a subtle bootlid spoiler, while the twin exhaust outlets – one on each side – further distinguish the RS from the regular Octavia range.
If the leaked images from last year’s configurator website are accurate, the Octavia RS will also feature black mirror caps, a matching decal along the lower door edges, and a thin red line above the broad diffuser.
The Skoda Octavia RS is expected to be powered by a version of the Mk7 Volkswagen Golf GTI’s new 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, producing roughly 165kW and 350Nm.
Both six-speed manual and six-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic transmissions will be offered, with power sent to the front wheels.
More power and a total vehicle weight down approximately 100kg thanks to its all-new, lighter MQB platform and bodywork will make the Octavia RS faster than ever, potentially capable of breaking 7.0-second 0-100km/h barrier for the first time.
The third-generation Octavia is significantly larger than the car it replaces, growing 90mm from grille to tailgate and 108mm between the wheels, which Skoda claims gives it the biggest boot in its class (590 litres) and more cabin space than ever.
The standard Skoda Octavia will go on sale in Australia in the second half of this year, with the sporty RS variant to join the range a few months later.
